Jones County Sheriff Butch Reece joined sheriffs across Georgia last week in taking a stand against HB 1, which would reduce law enforcement’s ability to seize and use forfeited drug funds.

Reece said he is totally opposed to the bill and explained that, for many years, all weapons, radar units, and computers have been purchased with confiscated funds.

“We take the money from drug dealers, but as it is now it goes to court and they have a right to fight it,” the sheriff pointed out. “It goes to court like any other case.”

He said the bill would hurt all local law enforcement departments. At this time anything confiscated can be used to purchase items needed by the officers and/or departments, with the exception of salaries.

Reece said state Reps. Bubber Epps and Susan Holmes have both told him they do not support the bill, and Sen. Burt Jones has also expressed his opposition.

The sheriff said the bill itself is 92 pages in length and is complicated.